Mayday has not been particularly well received by television critics, but this has not put off the people of Dorking who have enjoyed attempting to spot shots of the town, regardless of any perceived plot flaws.

Producer Chris Fry, from Kudos Productions, said Dorking had been chosen not just for its close links to London and the M25, but for its spooky environs, particularly the ancient woodland which is key to the plot. He was also impressed by the town’s varied architecture.

The drama, starring Sophie Okonedo and other well-known names, deals with the effect of a crime on a small, tightly-knit provincial town, and filming locations were chosen with this in mind.

A veterinary surgery at Denbies View, a Dene Street fast-food outlet, Wotton housing estate, historic West Street, Ranmore and Cotmandene have been some locations spotted. Ashcombe School pupils and Rose Hill residents may also have jumped out of their seats.

Watching Mayday was even more bizarre for Jane Freimiller, a resident of Dorking and member of the town's Bloco Do Sul samba band.

Her experience with the band led her to play the role of a drummer in the May Day processions in the first episode.

"We had a great day," she said. "It was 11 hours of filming and it was freezing - a cold, rainy June day.

"We had to keep stopping and starting because of the rain. It's pretty amazing the amount of effort and expense that goes into something only shown for a few seconds.

"I didn't watch it on Sunday but I woke up on Monday morning and had all these text messages and emails from people saying they'd seen me.

"I've watched it since and you only see me for about half-a-second but it was still very exciting.

"I've been pointing out places saying 'I go there all the time'.

"There's something really exciting about that. And I think Dorking looks really good in it."